TSA knocks ex-screener claims as inaccurate, outdated

The TSA pushed back at a story published in POLITICO Magazine authored by a former TSA screener, saying the problems described are either inaccurate or no longer true.

In the article, the former screener said TSA workers routinely made fun of peoples’ bodies as the images from whole body imaging machines flashed across their monitors in a secure room near the screening area.

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But TSA said “many of the TSA procedures and policies referenced in this article are no longer in place or are characterized inaccurately” — including the author’s references to whole-body imaging machines that used backscatter technology. Those machines produced virtually nude pictures of travelers, but were removed from airports in May in favor of scanners that render a generic avatar instead.

The original story noted, however, that the TSA canceled its Rapiscan contract in favor of a machine that produced a less graphic image.

“Every passenger deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and Transportation Security Administration policy upholds this standard. TSA does not tolerate any form of unethical or unlawful behavior by its employees and takes swift disciplinary action if discovered,” the agency said in a response to the article that also said screeners exacted retribution against rude passengers and used code words to alert other workers that attractive women were coming through screening lines.

And, TSA said since November 2011 it has “aggressively implemented risk-based security procedures to move away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach,” including expedited screening for 55 million passengers that TSA said is “dramatically different than the procedures of years past.”

However, one of the major steps the TSA sought to implement as part of its move to risk-based screening — allowing small knives to be carried on board planes once again — was scrapped in the face of congressional and public backlash.

“TSA’s top priority is to protect the traveling public, and every policy and security procedure in place is designed to mitigate threats to passengers and the aviation sector — which we know our adversaries continue to target. TSA is always taking steps to enhance our procedures, to most importantly stay ahead of evolving threats, and wherever possible to also improve the experience of the traveling public,” the agency said.

It also pointed out that it has changed screening procedures for the very young and the elderly, as well as special programs for wounded veterans, and has created “one-step removal procedures in many cases for employees behaving unethically or unlawfully.”